please note! studd - teach kids · “c.t. studd, cricketer and missionary” - by edmund julian...
TRANSCRIPT
CHARLESSTUDDPIONEER MISSIONARY
Text: Roy HarrisonIllustrated by: Tim Shirey
Text published by: European CEF®
Kilchzimmer4438 LangenbruckSwitzerland
www.cefeurope.com
UK publisher: WEC PublicationsBulstrodeOxford RoadGerrards CrossBucks SL9 8SZEngland
ISBN 0 900828 55 9
Copyright © 2005 European Child Evangelism Fellowship®
PLEASE NOTE! The visuals for this series can be purchased from many CEF offices and online shops. For a list of CEF offices and online shops in Europe, please visit www.teachkids.eu and click on "Locations".
All rights reserved worldwide. May be reproduced for
personal, nonprofit and non-commercial uses only.
Visit www.teachkids.eu for full details of permission.
Charles Studd
2
Table of contents
Lesson Page
Introduction 3
Lesson 1 A life given over to Christ 5Lesson 2 Charles obeys God’s call 11Lesson 3 Missionaries in China 17Lesson 4 New steps of faith 23Lesson 5 Taking the Gospel to Africa and the world 29
Summary of steps for counselling the child who wants to come to Christ 34
3
Introduction
Charles Studd was totally surrendered to the Lord. He gave up home, wealth, comfort and family forChrist. The goal of his life was the glory of God in the evangelisation of the unreached. He was human.He had his weaknesses. But he set an example in his burning love for the Lord and for the lost.
This missionary story was written to encourage Christian boys and girls to be witnesses for Christ wherethey are, and to seek God’s will about becoming missionaries. The need today is great. There are moreunevangelised people living in our world during this quarter-century than during all the preceding years ofhistory.
“Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35).
Resource material“C.T. Studd. Cricketer and Pioneer” - by Norman Grubb, published by Lutterworth Press.
“C.T. Studd and Priscilla” - by Eileen Vincent, published by Kingsway Publications and WEC Publications.
“C.T. Studd, Cricketer and Missionary” - by Edmund Julian and Christopher Scott, published by WECPublications.
“Well Played, Sir” - by Phil and Miriam Booth and Bill Caldwell - Cassette recordings produced by WorldwideEvangelisation for Christ.
Important dates in the life of C.T. Studd1860 Born in Wiltshire, England.
1876 Converted through the witness of Mr Whetherby.
1885 Went to China.
1888 Married Priscilla Stewart.
1894 Returned to England with family.
1900-1906 Pastor at Ootacamund in India.
1910 Explored needs in Central Africa.
1913 Started WEC work in Africa.
1917 Returned to Africa for the last time.
1931 Died in the Congo.
Practise using the visualsIt is wise to practise using the visuals before teaching the lesson to children. Become thoroughly familiarwith the flashcards or PowerPoint slides and know when you need to use them in the lesson.
Review questionsFor each lesson some review questions are given. These can be used after the lesson or the following week,before teaching the new lesson.
Charles Studd
4
Review time, if conducted in an orderly way, can be an ideal opportunity to reinforce what you havetaught, while still being fun for the children. You can use this time ...
1 to find out how much the children are understanding and remembering.
2 to help you as a teacher to know what you need to emphasise more so that the children will rememberbetter.
3 to provide a time of fun in the class. The children like competition and look forward to this part ofthe programme. But it is more than just a game: it is a time of learning.
In this textbook only questions on the lesson are included. It would be profitable to include questions alsoon the songs, verse and whatever else you teach. In this way the children realise that every part of theprogramme is important.
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
5
Flashcard 1-1Can you imagine being a student in the most famous grammar schoolin Britain? Eton was known as the top school, where only the sonsof wealthy parents could go. The greatest honour at Eton has alwaysbeen to be chosen to play for the cricket team.
Cricket is an open-air game. Each team-member tries to hit the ballwith his bat out of the reach of those in the field. That gives himtime to run between the two sets of wickets (upright sticks). Thereare different ways in which he can be “out”. One way is if the bowler,the one who throws the ball, hits the wicket. He can also be out if afielder catches the ball, or throws to the wicket when the batsmanhasn’t completed his run. For a batsman to get over 50 runs is a highscore.
Only once in the history of the school of Eton (in 1877) were threebrothers on the Eton cricket team at the same time. Their nameswere Kynaston, George and Charles Studd. All three were very goodcricketers. That year the Eton cricket team beat their great rivals,Harrow. During the first innings of one match, against Winchester,the oldest brother, Kynaston, scored 52 runs; the second, George,scored 54 and the youngest of the three, Charles, scored 53. You canimagine that it was a remarkable cricket match.
Flashcard 1-2The same year as the three boys were playing cricket for Eton, theirfather was invited by a friend to hear a preacher from America. Thepreacher’s name was D.L. Moody. He told the Gospel simply.
“You have put other things in the place of God. You want to runyour life your own way. God is holy and must punish sin. One dayJesus Christ, the Son of God, took the punishment for our sin on thecross. He died for us and rose again. You need to ask Christ to saveyou. Will you trust Him today?”
Mr Studd knew that Moody was telling the truth and he came backto hear him again. One evening, during the meeting, he trusted Christto save him from his sin. Right away he began to tell others about theLord Jesus and to invite them to his home to hear the Gospel. Heinvited his three sons to go with him to hear Mr Moody preach, butthey did not feel that they needed the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives.
Some of you have trusted Christ like Mr Studd did. Can you rememberwhat it was like when you asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save you? I
Lesson 1A life given over to Christ
PowerPoint 1-1
PowerPoint 1-2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
6
am sure you too want to tell others the Good News. I’m sure youhave found out that some want to hear and others don’t want tolisten. That shouldn’t stop us from telling people about the Saviour.It wasn’t easy for Mr Studd either.
Flashcard 1-3A year passed. The boys were home for the summer holidays. Eachweekend their father had someone staying in the house who spoke atthe meetings on Sunday.
One Saturday morning the boys planned a trick on the man who hadcome to preach. They asked Mr Whetherby to go horse-riding withthem and their father, for they discovered that he couldn’t ride verywell. The three boys rode on their horses behind the father and thepreacher. Suddenly they rode past the other two as fast as they could.This meant that it was very difficult for their father and the preacherto hold their horses back. Somehow the preacher managed to hangon as his horse strained forward. The boys repeated their trick severaltimes, and their father couldn’t say anything, because he himselfwanted so much to laugh.
It wasn’t very nice of the boys to make fun of this man, who hadcome to teach the Bible. Have you ever done anything like that?Perhaps you talked to your friend during the Bible lesson, or youlaughed about it together afterwards. It is wrong to make fun ofthose who are telling us the Gospel. They want to help us and this isthe most important message we can ever hear - about how to besaved from sin.
Flashcard 1-4The preacher was not put off by the boys’ trick. He spoke to all threeof them individually about the Lord Jesus Christ that afternoon.
As Charles was going out to play cricket the man caught him unawaresand asked, “Are you a Christian?”
Charles answered, “I’m not what you call a Christian. I have believedin Jesus Christ since I was knee-high. Of course, I believe in thechurch, too.”
The preacher answered, “‘For God so loved the world that He gaveHis only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should notperish but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). Do you believe JesusChrist died for you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe the other half of the verse - that those who believein Christ shall have everlasting life?”
“No,” said Charles, “I don’t believe that.”
PowerPoint 1-3
PowerPoint 1-4
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
7
The preacher said, “Either God or you is not speaking the truth. Doyou think God is a liar?”
“No,” said Charles.
“Will you always hold back from doing what is right - believing onehalf of the verse and not the other half?”
“I suppose not always,” said Charles, but he realised he needed toface the question there and then.
The preacher said, “Eternal life is a gift. When someone gives you apresent at Christmas, what do you do? You say ‘thank you’. Will yousay ‘thank you’ to God for this gift?”
Charles Studd got down on his knees and said “thank you” to God.He asked the Lord to save him from his sin, and right away joy andpeace came into his heart. He knew that he had new life from God,eternal life.
It was only a few days later that the brothers discovered something;the man had talked to all three of them separately that afternoon andeach of them had prayed to ask Christ to save them. That was themost important day in the lives of all three of them.
Flashcard 1-5Charles liked cricket a lot. He could bowl and bat very well. He spenthours practising his batting in front of a tall mirror in his bedroom.He would not smoke in case the smoke would affect his eye-sight.
After his older brothers had left the school, he became captain ofthe cricket team at Eton. When he went to study at CambridgeUniversity, he was chosen for their cricket team and soon becametheir best player and captain. In fact in 1882 he was named the finestcricketer in England. The following year he was a member of theEnglish national team which went to Australia and won the series ofmatches.
Through playing cricket Charles learned about courage, patience andteamwork. However, even though he was a true Christian, he allowedcricket to take too great a place in his life. He spent a lot of time onthis game and did not have much time for God. Are there things thatseem to be more important to you than living for the Lord JesusChrist? If you are a Christian the Lord Jesus Christ should come firstin your life. Pleasing Him and doing what the Bible says is moreimportant than anything else.
Flashcard 1-6For six years, while he was a student, Charles did not tell others aboutthe Lord Jesus as he should. He knew the Gospel, but he did nothave the courage to share it. There were people praying for him thathe would have a new love for Christ.
PowerPoint 1-5
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
8
Towards the end of his time at Cambridge University, the Lord usedthe serious illness of his brother George to show him that the mostimportant thing in life is doing what God wants. George almost died;his trust in the Lord was strong. Charles realised then that the onlything that really matters when you face death is to have Jesus Christruling in your life as Lord of all.
He said, “It doesn’t matter how famous a cricketer I am, or how rich,or how popular. Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and servingHim is far, far greater.”
Flashcard 1-2 (again)His brother George finally got well again and Charles went back tohear the preacher, Mr Moody, who was holding meetings in London.
As Moody spoke, Charles realised, “I have not been living for theLord as I should. I have been putting cricket before my work for theLord.”
Charles asked the Lord to forgive him and to take full control of hislife. He let the Lord have first place. Right away he began telling hisfriends about the Lord Jesus Christ. Before long he saw the first onecome to Christ.
He said, “The joy I had of seeing my friend saved was greater thanany joy I have ever had in playing cricket.”
He still played, but now he wanted above all to tell others the goodnews of Jesus Christ.
Flashcard 1-6Charles Studd had to learn another very important lesson - that Hecould not serve the Lord in his own strength. He had to learn todepend completely on the Lord to work through him. He could notcount on his own abilities or even the advice and help of others.There were things he thought he could do on his own, without askingthe Lord to guide him and help him. For example, he had courses tostudy at university - did he need the Lord’s wisdom and strength forthat?
Then he realised the great truth: “... you are not your own for youwere bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In his room oneevening he got down on his knees and yielded every part of his lifeto the Lord. He used the words of a hymn as his prayer.
“Take my life and let it beConsecrated Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days;Let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
That night he saw that he needed to trust in the Lord like a little boywho trusts in his daddy to bring him somewhere he had never been
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
PowerPoint 1-6
PowerPoint 1-2 (again)
PowerPoint 1-6
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
9
before. He was to live his whole life simply trusting in the Lord. Heknew that the Lord was more than able to keep him, if he gaveeverything over to Him. So he trusted God to do His will in andthrough his life. The Lord Jesus gave him wonderful peace and joy ashe gave over every part of his life to Him.
If you are a Christian, are you willing to say, “Dear Lord, all I am, allI have and all I ever hope to be, I now and forever dedicate to Youfor Your use and glory. And please Lord, hold me to it. Amen.”
Remember if we are going to serve the Lord, then it must be in Hisstrength. He wants us to give ourselves completely over to Him,trusting in Him alone.
Review questions1 What were the names of the three Studd brothers? (Kynaston,
George and Charles.)
2 Which game did they like to play especially? (Cricket.)
3 What did their father, Mr Studd, especially want to do, after hetrusted Christ to save him from his sin? (Tell others about theSaviour.)
4 How did the three boys come to trust in Christ? (Through apreacher, Mr Whetherby, who talked to each one of them aboutthe Lord Jesus.)
5 Why was Charles not living for the Lord as he should? (He allowedcricket to take too great a place in his life.)
6 What did God use to show Charles what was most important inlife? (His brother, George, almost died.)
7 What did Charles say gave him a greater joy than he ever had inplaying cricket? (The joy of seeing his friend come to Christ.)
8 Which lesson did Charles learn which would be important forhis whole life? (He learned to depend completely on the Lord.)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 0
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 1
Charles Studd came to Christ when he was a student at Eton College.However, he allowed cricket to take too great a place in his life. Itbecame his “idol” - it became the most important thing in his life,more important than living for the Lord. He came back to the Lordwhile at Cambridge University through the illness of his brother. Heasked the Lord to forgive him and started witnessing. Charles laterrealised that he needed to give every part of his life over to Christ.He saw that he could not serve the Lord in his own strength; it hadto be the Lord working out His will in him and through him.
Flashcard 2-1When Charles came back to the Lord, he wanted to serve Him withall his heart. As he read the Bible and prayed, he felt that, rather thangetting a job after university, the Lord wanted him to use all his timeto bring the Gospel to others. He took as his special Bible verse:“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses hisown soul?” (Mark 8:36). Belonging to the Lord was worth more thanowning all the riches in the world. He decided to find out God’s willfor his life. It wasn’t long after he had given his life completely to theLord that he felt the Lord was calling him to go as a missionary toChina.
Maybe there is a Christian boy or girl here, and the Lord has beenleading you to understand that He has an extra special plan for yourlife. He wants you to use all your time to bring the Gospel to others.He asks some Christians to do that, you know. If the Lord is callingyou to be a missionary or full-time worker, you should thank Him.You can trust Him to work things out, if you obey His will.
Flashcard 2-2Charles attended a meeting where a missionary going back to Chinashared the great need for more workers there. As he prayed aboutwhat God wanted him to do about China, he knew there was onething alone which could keep him from going and that was his lovefor his mother. His father had died only two years after he was savedand so there was only his mother left.
It was then that he read the passage in the Bible which says, “He wholoves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew10:37). After that he knew it was God’s will for him to go to China.He wanted to obey the Lord above everyone else. He knew too thathe could trust God to take care of his mother back home in England.
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
Lesson 2Charles obeys God’s call
PowerPoint 2-1
PowerPoint 2-2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 2
It was not easy. The more sure he was about God wanting him to goto China, the more strongly his family was against his leaving for themissionfield.
Flashcard 2-3Several people tried to persuade Charles not to go. His own motherpleaded with him to stay in England. Some Christian friends said hecould do a lot for God among young people in Britain, instead ofgoing to China.
His oldest brother said, “You’re making a mistake. It will break yourmother’s heart.”
“I don’t want to be stubborn and go out because of my own decision.I only want to do God’s will. Let’s ask God!” Charles answered.
So both of them knelt down and prayed that the Lord would makeHis will to be done.
That night Charles could not sleep. He kept thinking of a verse inthe Bible. “Ask of Me, and I will give You ... the ends of the earth”(Psalm 2:8). He took this as a promise from the Lord, that people infar-off China would hear the Gospel and put their trust in the LordJesus Christ. Charles was sure that the Lord was speaking to himthrough this part of His Word. He knew he must obey what theLord had asked him to do - no matter what his friends and relativesthought.
It is not always easy, when you follow God’s will. Others may try tostop you. Some of them may even be from your own family. Wouldyou be prepared like Charles, to leave your family, even though theydid not understand that the Lord had called you?
Flashcard 2-4When Charles Studd was sure God was calling him to go to China,he went to talk with Hudson Taylor, the director of the China InlandMission. He was accepted as one of their missionaries. Stanley Smith,a friend from university, had already answered God’s call to go toChina. In a few weeks five more young men who had also studied atthe university had joined them. The newspapers printed the story ofthese seven brilliant young men who were giving up everything to goto China as missionaries. They called them the “Cambridge Seven”.(Cambridge and Oxford are the two top universities in Britain.)
Other students in the universities and young people throughout thecountry were touched that such fine young men should give theirlives to bring the Gospel to China. Other Christian young people inEngland realised they had to face the question, “Am I willing to givemy life to tell those who have never heard about the Lord Jesus?”
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
PowerPoint 2-3
PowerPoint 2-4
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 3
Would you be ready to say “yes” to the Lord, if He showed you thatHe wanted you to go as a missionary to some far-off land or to somedifficult group of people?
The news spread about the seven students. Even Queen Victoriawas pleased to receive a copy of the booklet telling of how the“Cambridge Seven” had been saved and had received the call ofGod to go to China.
Flashcard 2-5Charles Studd was an unusual man and many special things happenedin his life. You musn’t think that such things have to happen in yourlife too. God can use you, even though you may not study at university.God has a work for you to do. It will be different from that of Charles.
Some Christian professors in the University of Edinburgh wrote toCharles Studd and Stanley Smith to ask them to speak in a meetingfor university students. The two men arrived early for the meetingand spent the early part of the afternoon in prayer. They knew it wasvery important to spend time praying when they wanted to be usedby the Lord.
The hall was packed full of students. They had come to hear thesetwo well-known sportsmen, who were giving up everything to goout to serve the Lord in China. The students were deeply impressedby their love for Christ.
Their idea of missionaries had been people with long faces singinghymns and not young, wealthy men giving up fame, family and friendsto preach the Gospel to others.
Another meeting was arranged in Edinburgh and 3,000 students came.Charles told them how the Lord Jesus Christ had changed his lifeand had shown him His will. He told how he had received a burninglove for his Saviour, and for others who did not know Him. StanleySmith told them the Good News of Christ and how He had died forthem on the cross and risen again. He is a living Saviour, able tochange lives today. At the end of the meeting, many students brokedown and cried because they were not saved. Charles, Stanley andother Christians had the joy of speaking to student after student toexplain how they could turn from their sin and depend on the LordJesus Christ alone to save them.
Flashcard 2-6Meetings were arranged in other universities in Britain. It was awonderful opportunity for Charles and Stanley to tell the Gospel.Young men especially came in large numbers to see and hear them.Many came to Christ.
PowerPoint 2-5
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 4
In Liverpool, for example, at the end of the meeting, sixty studentsasked the Lord to save them from their sin. They wanted the Lord tochange their lives. God used Charles and Stanley to speak to Christiansas well. One of them was a Pastor called F.B. Meyer. He saw somethingin the life of Charles Studd which was different. At the end of themeeting he asked Charles what was the secret of his life.
Charles answered, “The secret is, God has got all of C.T. Studd thatthere is to have.”
That was a great challenge to Meyer. He spent that night in prayerasking God to take over every part of his life. But there was one partof his life he wanted to keep for himself. Finally he had to give inand let the Lord have that part too. That was an important night forhim. From then on God began to use him in a special way to helpothers to trust in the Saviour and live for Him.
Are you willing to go as a missionary if the Lord calls you? Wouldyou say “yes” to the Lord, even if it meant leaving home, friends andfamily to be able to tell others about the Saviour? Do you know thesecret? Can you say, “God has got all of me that there is to have?”Let the Lord have His way in every part of your life and He will useyou to help others just as He used Charles Studd and F.B. Meyer.
Flashcard 2-4 (again)The last meetings before the “Cambridge Seven” left for China wereheld in Cambridge, Oxford and London. What was going to happento Charles and the other missionaries when they got to China? Ifyou want to know, come back next time and we’ll have another partof this wonderful story of God’s working in the life of Charles Studd.
Review questions1 What did the Lord call Charles to do? (To go as a missionary to
China.)
2 How did the Lord show Charles that he should go to China?(Through a meeting where a missionary told about the greatneed for more workers there.)
3 Who were against his going to China? (His family.)
4 What made Charles sure that he should go? (The Word of God- Matthew 10:37, Psalm 2:8.)
5 Who were the “Cambridge Seven”? (Seven former students fromCambridge University who answered God’s call to go to China.)
6 Give the missing words from this Bible verse which was specialto Charles: “What will it profit a man if he ___ and loses hisown soul?” (“... gains the whole world ...” - Mark 8:36.)
7 What did Charles Studd tell F.B. Meyer was the secret of his life?(He said, “God has got all of C.T. Studd that there is to have.”)
PowerPoint 2-6
PowerPoint 2-4 (again)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 5
8 Name some of the things which happened after Charles said“yes” to God about going as a missionary. (Students were saved,Christians were challenged to give everything to Christ. EvenQueen Victoria was pleased.)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 6
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 7
Flashcard 3-1The “Cambridge Seven” set sail for China over 100 years ago(February 1885). God used them to lead others on the ship to Christ.
One man was on his way to India where he was captain of a steamer.He was well-known for lying, cursing and drunkenness. At first, whenCharles spoke to the captain, he made fun of the Bible. Charles kepton and told him of the joy and peace the Lord had given him. Thatnight, in his cabin, the captain told the Lord that he was truly sorryfor his sin. He asked Christ to take over his life, and he was wonderfullychanged.
When you trust the Lord Jesus to take away your sin, He will give younew life too. Now the captain loved to tell others about the LordJesus Christ, and spent as much time as possible on the rest of thejourney reading and studying his Bible.
Charles learned that in missionary work you have to begin tellingothers about the Lord Jesus right where you are. If you are a Christian,are you telling your friends about the Lord Jesus in your street andyour school?
Some people have the idea that missionaries are perfect - “They can’tdo anything wrong.” That is not true! Charles Studd had his faults,like other Christians. He was often impatient. He would decidesometimes not to do what the mission leaders asked. It wasn’t alwayseasy for others to work with him, because he had his own way ofdoing things and he didn’t like asking others for advice.
Charles often talked about “the God of the impossible”. The reasonfor the good things that happened was not any greatness in CharlesStudd - it was because of the Great Lord and Saviour whom heserved.
Flashcard 3-2When the missionaries arrived in China, Hudson Taylor was there tomeet them.
Soon they began learning the language and all they could about theChinese people. They were told that the best way to reach them wasto become like them. So they started to wear the same kind of clothesas the Chinese. For the men this meant giving up shirts and trousersand wearing Chinese-style shirts and long-sleeved gowns. They evengrew their hair long to have pigtails like the Chinese. What a changefrom the days at university in Cambridge!
Lesson 3Missionaries in China
PowerPoint 3-1
PowerPoint 3-2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 8
In order to learn the language each one was sent out to a differentarea of China to live with the people. The Chinese were not used toseeing white people, so whatever Charles did the Chinese peoplewatched with real curiosity.
It took a lot of time and hard work to learn the language. It wasdifficult for Charles not being able to talk to the people to whomGod had called him. During this time of being so much on his own,Charles spent many hours studying the Bible. He got up very early toread the Bible and pray, so that he could start the day with God. Helearnt to live day by day by what the Bible teaches. This is a lessonwhich all of us, who are trusting in Jesus Christ, need to learn. Weshould take time each day to pray and to read some verses in theBible. We should try with the Lord’s help, to put what the Bible teachesinto practice in our everyday lives.
Life was far from easy in China. The weather was hot. Charles, likethe others, had to sleep on the floor, without a mattress. Practicallythe only thing to eat was rice. Most of the travel had to be done onfoot. The simple Chinese sandals did not prevent his feet from beingcut and blistered on the rough tracks. To make matters worse therewere riots, and foreigners especially were attacked. The people calledthem “foreign devils”. Being a missionary can be very difficult.
Flashcard 3-3One of the greatest blessings God gave Charles was a wonderfulwife. Her name was Priscilla Stewart. She came from Northern Ireland(from Lisburn). She too was a missionary - in Shanghai. They metwhen Charles went there to see his brother George. Priscilla hadgiven every part of her life to God, as Charles had. The Lord usedher to do a great work among the people in the city.
The wedding was a simple one. They did not have any special weddingclothes. Priscilla wore a long white sash and on it these words “Unitedto fight for Jesus”. At the end of the service they both knelt andpromised to God, “We will never hinder one another from servingYou.”
If you are a Christian, you should pray that the Lord will guide youwhether you should marry and who you should marry. It is a wonderfulblessing and help to be married to the right person. It would be betterto remain unmarried, than to be married to the wrong person.
Flashcard 3-4Slowly Charles learned to speak in Chinese. What a joy it was to beable to share the Good News of the Saviour. Whenever a Chineseperson became a Christian, he faced many hardships and difficultiesfrom his family and friends.
PowerPoint 3-3
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
1 9
One of those who came to Christ was a man called Mr Fan. Beforehe was saved, he had been one of the most evil men in the province.He had even killed a man. When he became a Christian, he said, “Imust go to the town where I have done all this evil and tell the GoodNews.”
Crowds of people in his town came to listen to him. The town leader,the mandarin, ordered him to be beaten with a bamboo rod. He wasgiven 2,000 strokes and was left for dead. Mr Fan was not given thispunishment for the wrong he had done, he was beaten because hewas telling the others about the Lord Jesus. He was brought back towhere the missionaries were and, after much care, became better.
He then said, “I must go back to my own city and preach the Gospel.”
This time he was sent to prison, but he preached from the windowof his cell. So many gathered to listen to him that the mandarin gaveup trying to keep him in prison and set him free.
While Charles was in China, he learned that he had inherited a largesum of money from his father. The Lord led him in a special way “todo what the rich young ruler did not do.” What did the rich youngruler not do?Allow the children to answer.
Charles gave the money to help a number of Christian missions andworks. He wanted to depend on God and not on any bank accountin England. The Lord blessed him and continued to supply his need.The money he gave was a great help to the Lord’s work, even to helpstart Moody Bible Institute in USA. This Bible school was to trainmany Christian workers and missionaries. It was begun in memoryof D.L. Moody, the preacher who had meant so much to Charles andespecially his father.
Flashcard 3-5Right after their wedding Charles and Priscilla went to a town in theinterior of China to begin a work for God there. Missionaries hadnot lived there before. Their home was a very simple Chinese one. Itwas just bare white-washed walls and brick floors with a fire-place inthe centre and a brick bed. They built a simple church - Chinese-style.
It took a long time to win the confidence of the people. At first theycursed Charles and Priscilla every time they saw them outside thehome. They blamed them for the year of drought, when there wasno rain. They tried to break into their house and even to destroy thechurch. But God blessed as they told others about the Saviour. Agood number of people were saved and began living for Christ andtelling others about Him.
PowerPoint 3-4
PowerPoint 3-5
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 0
If you are a Christian, do you remember to pray for missionaries?Some of them are facing difficult or dangerous situations today, justas Charles and Priscilla did many years ago in China. The Bible tellsus the kind of things we should pray for:
opportunities to tell people about the Saviour(Colossians 4:2-3);
people to be saved (Romans 10:1);
more workers to help in bringing others to Christ (Matthew 9:38);
enough money for the missionaries to live and work for the Lord(Philippians 4:14-19).
Flashcard 3-6Charles and Priscilla opened a place where people who were addictedto opium could come and be helped to stop taking this drug. Inseven years over 800 men and women passed through their “OpiumRefuge”. Many were saved as well as cured. Smoking (or chewing)opium was a big problem among the Chinese at that time. Whenthey took some of it, at first it did not seem to be harmful. Later theycouldn’t stop and they needed to take more and more. It made themweak and lazy. Many people made their living by selling the drug.When someone tried to stop using opium, he had strong nightmaresand became violent. He was also very sick. It was a difficult, long andtiring job for Charles and Priscilla, as they helped people to stoptaking this drug.
During this time the Lord also blessed them with four daughters anda little boy who died at birth. The Lord had not promised a life withoutsorrow and sickness or trouble. There were times when both Charlesand Priscilla were very, very ill and it even seemed they might die.The Lord protected them. He also used people to send the moneyand food they needed to live. They experienced God’s promise: “MyGod shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory byChrist Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Becoming a missionary may seem to some people like an excitingadventure. In reality it means sacrifice, hard work, often lonelinessand discomforts. Yet we know that there is no safer and better placein the world than being in the centre of God’s will for us. If you area Christian, have you asked God if He wants you to be a missionaryor to work full-time for Him one day? “Whatever He says to you, doit” (John 2:5).
Review questions1 How did Charles show that he was a “real missionary” on the
way out to China on the boat? (By telling others, including thecaptain, about the Lord Jesus.)
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
Read the verses fromyour Bible, or have anolder child or helper readthem.
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
PowerPoint 3-6
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 1
2 If you are hoping to be a foreign missionary some time, whereshould you begin your missionary work? (Here.)
3 When should you begin your missionary work? (Now.)
4 How should you begin your missionary work? (By telling myfriends and family about the Lord Jesus.)
5 What did Charles do every morning? (Read the Bible and prayed.)
6 Why is it important for each of us who want to serve the Lordto read His Word and pray? (To know what God wants us to doand to have His strength and blessing to do it.)
7 What did Mr Fan suffer for the Lord Jesus? (2,000 strokes of abamboo rod and he was sent to prison.)
8 Give some examples of ways that we may have to suffer as wefollow the Lord and obey Him. (Others make fun of us; theymay not like us and may even want to hurt us.)
9 Why did Charles give away his wealth? (So as to dependcompletely on the Lord.)
10 Do you think that Priscilla was the right person for Charles tomarry? If so, why? (Yes. She had given every part of her life tothe Lord and it was God’s will for them to marry.)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 3
Flashcard 4-1After being missionaries in China for ten years it was time for themto return home to see their families and friends. Even when the babieswere being born, Priscilla and Charles did not go down to the coastfor the births, because it would mean leaving the work for too long.Now after ten years God was guiding them to return home. It was asad day when they had to leave. A big group of people who hadbecome Christians through hearing them teach the Gospel, camewith them to the next village on their way to the coast. It was hard tosay goodbye to these people they had grown to love so much.
The journey to Shanghai with four young children was not easy. Partof the journey was made by sedan chairs carried by mules. Anotherpart was by cargo boat on the river, trying to sleep on top of boxes,which were not all on the same level. China was at war with Japan atthat time, and the Chinese thought they were Japanese or at leastfriends of the Japanese. So whenever the boat stopped at one of thelanding places, crowds gathered to see the ones they called “foreigndevils”. The Lord kept them safe from harm on the dangerous journey.
Then came the long trip back to England by ship. The crew had asmall band which played for the passengers. The Studd girls loved tolisten to the music.
About the third day they came to their parents to say, “We do notunderstand these missionaries at all, for they only play music, andthey never sing hymns or pray.”
In their life in the interior of China they had never seen any whiteman or woman who was not a missionary!
Flashcard 4-2When they got home they stayed at the home of Grandma Studd.Both Charles and Priscilla were worn out by the times of sickness inChina, the long hours of hard work, and the lack of good food.Their four girls liked very much staying with their grandmother. Theyenjoyed the good food. They went to school and made new friends.They went for walks in the beautiful English countryside. Everythingwas so different from China, especially the food. Out there the familylived most of the time on rice.
If you meet a missionary family home for a rest in your country, areyou kind to the children? Do you try to be friendly and talk to them?
Lesson 4New steps of faith
PowerPoint 4-1
PowerPoint 4-2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 4
It meant a lot to the Studd girls to be made welcome when they cameto England.
Charles slowly got well again and was soon speaking in many meetingsand visiting the churches and friends who had prayed for them.Priscilla on the other hand remained very weak. There did not seemmuch hope of a return to China. The Lord had something else forthem at this time. It is wonderful to know that God promises to bewith us when we do His will and depend on Him.
The news had crossed the Atlantic about the “Cambridge Seven”.Charles’ oldest brother, Kynaston, had gone to USA for meetingsand had shared the news. A work began in the universities and twostudents decided to start the “Student Volunteer Movement” toencourage more Christian students to go out as missionaries. Charleswas invited to come. It meant leaving his family at home and makingthe long journey by ship to USA. It meant travelling from place toplace for meetings. It meant spending a lot of time in personal talkswith individual students. Charles accepted it, because it was what theLord wanted him to do. The Lord was with him and helped himduring the 18 months he spent in USA speaking at meetings. Hundredsof students came to Christ and many gave their lives to go to themission field, if that was His will.
Because God guided Charles Studd to do that, it does not mean thatwe today should do exactly the same. It would not be right for amissionary to stay away from his family for such a long time today.We must remember that it was difficult to travel back then, becausethere were no planes. It was not an easy time for his wife, Priscilla, athome. She was often very ill and lonely. She had to bring up the girlswithout the help of Charles. She would have preferred speaking inmeetings like Charles, but she had to learn to be patient.
Flashcard 4-3Then the Lord gave Charles another work to do. From 1900 to 1906the family went to live in South India, where Charles was pastor of achurch. There were two things that led him to take on this work.First of all, it was the last wish of his father before he died, andsecondly it was also the great desire of his brother George. Both hisfather and his brother had had farms in India at different times.However, during their time there they had not been witnesses for theLord Jesus Christ to the Indian people. They felt that one of theStudd family should put that right and go there as a missionary. Charleswas the one to go and, of course, his wife and daughters went withhim. The church was for the English-speaking people from the area.There were many army officers and British soldiers stationed there.
It was a special six years when the family could be together. Theycould invite people to come to their home. Dad could play with thegirls. There were many interesting places to visit and things to do.
PowerPoint 4-3
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 5
Their great desire was to see others come to Christ. God answeredtheir prayers.
Flashcard 4-4One man who became a Christian was the chief clerk in the localmilitary offices. He had not opened his Bible for 23 years. His littleson persuaded him to go to church.
He said, “You must come and hear Mr Studd. He talks about breadand butter in the pulpit.”
Charles had used a story about this to show how the Lord meetseveryday needs. The father went, and kept going back.
He wrote to Charles Studd, “Each Sunday at church I get hit harderand harder. This last week I felt I had to make my decision. Therewas a big fight between God and me and the devil. Thank God. Hewon.”
There was such a change in his life that the Indian boy who workedfor him said, “What happened to the master? He was always talkingplenty swear words, now he is only doing plenty church work.”
This Indian boy noticed the difference and came with the others tothe family prayer and Bible-reading time which the man started inhis home. Do others see that you are a Christian, that your life isdifferent?
All this time Charles was struggling with asthma - a disease that makesit difficult for a person to breathe. He hardly ever could sleep between2:00 and 4:00 in the morning because of coughing.
However, there were other joys, because all four of the daughterstrusted Christ while they were in India. Later, when the Studd familywent back to England, God provided through a friend for them toattend good boarding schools in England and Switzerland.
Charles Studd wrote to a friend about them, “It is a great joy to seeall my girls right out on the Lord’s side. For that alone I feel I owe theBlessed Saviour every drop of blood and affection in body and heart.”
God promises to be with us and to help us when we do His will anddepend on Him.
Flashcard 4-5God was preparing Charles Studd for his greatest work of all. Thefamily had returned to England from India. Charles was havingmeetings in different parts of the country.
One day after speaking in meetings in Liverpool, his attention wascaught by a notice. It touched his sense of humour because it said,“Cannibals want missionaries”. It wasn’t, of course, that the cannibalswanted the missionaries to go there so that they could eat them,
PowerPoint 4-4
PowerPoint 4-5
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 6
rather that missionaries were needed to preach the Gospel. CharlesStudd decided to find out more about this strange notice.
The notice was to advertise a missionary meeting. Charles went thereand heard a Christian man sharing the need in the centre of Africa.He said explorers had been there and big game hunters, traders andofficials, but no Christian had gone to these tribes to tell them aboutJesus Christ.
As Charles thought to himself, “Why have no Christians gone?” itwas as if God said to him, “Why don’t you go?”
Charles replied, “The doctors won’t allow it.”
The answer came, “I am the God who heals you. Don’t you trustMe? I will go with you and keep you.”
There were no excuses left. He knew he had to go. The only questionwas “How?” He had no money. At 50 years of age and after 15 yearsof ill health, how could he ever face the heat and climate, the diseasesand the difficulties in the heart of Africa?
Flashcard 4-6Charles knew God wanted him to go. He shared it with a group ofmen who decided to form a committee to help him. They had onecondition - that he be examined by a doctor to see if he was fit to go.The doctor’s answer was “no”. So the committee said “no” to Charles.
His answer to the committee was this, “Gentlemen, God has calledme to go, and I will go. I will blaze the trail, though my grave mayonly become a stepping stone that younger men may follow.”
He was ready to go and preach the Gospel in the centre of Africa,even if it meant he would die there. Other missionaries would go totake up the work.
Maybe you are making excuses to God that you are not able to serveHim. Perhaps you are saying, “I am not strong enough, or cleverenough, to be a missionary one day,” or “I am too busy to do allthose things for God,” or “I am not good enough to work for God.”The Lord is able to give you the strength and to help you to do whatHe wants you to do. He promises, “Lo, I am with you always”(Matthew 28:20). The Bible says, “Whoever loses his life for My sakeand the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35).
Next time we’ll learn how God worked things out for Charles. Areyou counting on God Who can do what seems impossible to men?He is still able to do it today, if we are willing to do His will.
Review questions1 How many years did Charles work as a missionary in China?
(Ten.)
Read the verses fromyour Bible, or have anolder child or helper readthem.
PowerPoint 4-6
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 7
2 What can we as Christians do to help missionaries? (Pray, give,write, be friendly to them when they come home.)
3 What did Charles do when he came home? (He got back hisstrength, spoke in meetings in Britain and USA.)
4 Where did God give Charles and Priscilla a new work to do forsix years? (In South India.)
5 What happened when a little boy persuaded his father to go tochurch to hear Charles Studd? (He trusted Christ, his life waschanged and he started family prayer and Bible reading in hishome.)
6 What was written on the notice which made Charles go to themeeting about Africa? (Cannibals need missionaries.)
7 Why did the committee say no to Charles going to the heart ofAfrica? (The doctor said he was not fit to go.)
8 What are some of the excuses Christians make today for notserving the Lord? (“I am not strong enough or clever enough”;“I am not good enough”.)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 8
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
2 9
Charles Studd knew God wanted him to go as a missionary to theheart of Africa.
The committee said, “The doctor thinks you are too ill.”
What was Charles going to do? He had no money. He was over 50years of age. His years of missionary work in China and India hadleft him in poor health. The only thing he could do was to trust God.
Flashcard 5-1There was a ship leaving for Africa in three weeks’ time. Charles didnot have the money to pay the fare. After meeting with the committeesomeone gave him £10. He used that to book his ticket. The Lordguided others to make gifts and all the money needed came in.
Charles left by boat on 15 December 1910. He travelled alone. Itbecame clear to him that his going out was the beginning of somethingmuch greater - a big new step to bring the Gospel to many peoplearound the world who had never heard of Christ. He wrote back tohis dear wife Priscilla to share the idea of this new venture with herand to encourage her to trust God for better health, so that she couldbe a full part of it.
After staying for a short time in Khartoum, Charles set out with twoothers to go on a 1400 kilometre (900 mile) trip to see the needs ofthe people for himself. He learned of the great masses of peoplefurther to the south-west in the Republic of Congo who had neverheard of Christ. God showed him that this was where he was towork for Him. He went back to England to launch the new mission.
Flashcard 5-2The evening before Charles left again for Africa, the Lord guidedhim to say something which became the motto of the new mission.
“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be toogreat for me to make for Him.”
A young man of 21, named Alfred Buxton, went with Charles. Theirjourney to the Congo was not easy. They had to face the terriblefevers of malaria. They did not know the languages of the people.Many of the tribes were cannibals who had killed other white menbefore. Once the two men took a wrong track and became separatedfrom their African helpers, who were carrying their belongings. Godgave them the idea of using the extra buttons on their trousers to
Lesson 5Taking the Gospel to Africa and the world
PowerPoint 5-1
PowerPoint 5-2
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
3 0
“pay” for food and the cannibals left them alone. They must havethought the two white men were “too thin” to be any good.
Finally, after nine months’ travel through thick forests and swamps,they reached their destination in the very heart of Africa. God hadled them to a place on the edge of the great tropical forest with thebiggest population of all of the Congo. Through a Belgian officialthey were able to get a plot of land to start a mission station. Godhad gone before and prepared the way. His protecting hand was overthem.
One morning when Charles had just finished breakfast, two of theAfrican helpers came to him and said, “There is a snake in yourbed!”
Charles went and found under his blanket a thin green snake. Onebite of that snake would have meant certain death. Yet it had beenlying there beside him the whole night long. Charles rememberedthose words of Psalm 91, “He shall give His angels charge over you,to keep you in all your ways” (verse 11). Charles thanked God forprotecting him.
Flashcard 5-3God had also prepared the hearts of the people for the Gospel.Wherever they went, people who before had been cannibals, thievesand murderers, welcomed them with open arms. Other missionariescame to help in the work, and soon the first Christians were baptised.Some of them began going out for three months at a time to take theGospel to those who had not yet heard.
Later some went as missionaries to other tribes. The New Testamentand parts of the Old Testament were translated into Bangala. Thislanguage was known by about 100 tribes in that whole area, althoughat that time they did not know this.
Soon churches were started throughout that vast area (1000 km longx 500 km wide). Thousands, who a short time before had worshippedidols and done many wicked things, were changed by the Lord JesusChrist.
It was not easy. Two of Charles’ daughters and their husbands wentout as missionaries to join him in Africa. One couple buried theirfirst child in Africa, after he had died from disease there.
During the last 13 years of his life Charles was only going to see hiswife Priscilla during two weeks, before he went to be with the Lord.Priscilla herself was not well either. Yet from her home and invalidcouch she formed prayer centres, prepared prayer letters and leafletsabout the work and wrote often 20 to 30 letters a day. She also lookedafter the publishing of the mission magazine. Her daughters helpedher in the work. Later God gave her strength to travel and speak inmany meetings about the missionary work.
Read the verse from yourBible, or have an olderchild or helper read it.
PowerPoint 5-3
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
3 1
Even though you may never go out as a missionary, if you are aChristian, you can help in missionary work - by praying, by givingand perhaps even writing to missionaries.
Flashcard 5-4The most difficult years were during the First World War, when therewas a great shortage of workers. Alfred Buxton, who had worked forsix years for Charles, had to return to England for a time.
The greatest heartbreak was when some of the leading Christiansstarted to do some of the wicked things they had done before theycame to Christ. God helped the little group of missionaries to continueand their prayers were answered in 1920 when new workers arrivedand the next year Alfred Buxton returned to help in leading the work.
This allowed Charles to go south to Ibambi, to begin the work inthat new area. The Africans called him “Bwana Mukubwa”, whichmeans “The great white chief.” The people came in large numbersto hear the Gospel and many came to Christ and were baptised. Hebegan to go into the forest around and many more came to know theSaviour. He wrote about one visit.
“I found some 1,500 black people all packed as tight as sardines,squatting on the ground in the sweltering midday sun. Some hadwalked up to ten hours to hear the Word of God. They were greedyto hear the Gospel. A two hour meeting does not trouble them. Underour guidance they built themselves a huge grass-covered shed - thehouse of God - to seat 1,250 people, so that they could worship inspite of storms and sun.”
Many tried to persuade Charles to return to England for a rest. Herefused to go, knowing that so many wanted to hear the Gospel. By1923 there were 40 missionaries working with Charles in that vastarea in the heart of Africa. It had been well worthwhile for him toobey God’s call, ten years before, to go there with the Gospel. Thiswas only the beginning, because the Lord had placed on the heart ofCharles every land where the Gospel was not yet known.
Flashcard 5-5Charles was always thinking of these people who had never heard ofJesus. He wrote booklets to challenge Christians to go to them.
“The doors of the world have been opened for us by God ... Theheart of Asia, the heart of Africa and well-nigh the whole continentof South America, are untouched with the Gospel of Christ ... Can itbe that the ears of Christ’s soldiers are deaf to the call of God andthe cries of the dying souls of men?”
The work of the mission started in other parts of the world - in theAmazon forests of South America, in Central Asia (Tibet), in Arabiaand West Africa. Today (in 2005) WEC International (Worldwide
PowerPoint 5-4
PowerPoint 5-5
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
3 2
Evangelisation for Christ) has more than 1,700 full-time workersaround the world in 76 countries.
The last years of Charles’ life were spent “out-and-out” for God inbringing people to Christ and building up the believers that they mightlive lives that were pure and completely given over to the Lord. Fewothers could have taken the tough daily life which he followed. Helived in a simple bamboo hut like one of the Africans. His day beganearly with at least two hours of personal prayer and study of theBible. Often in the morning he would preach to the people. Themeetings seldom lasted less than three hours. He also made sure thatthe building work was done in the best way possible. He had manyletters to write and answer - from the home office of the missionand from other missionaries. Each evening there was a two-hourprayer meeting with the other missionaries. Above all Charles lovedto go out and preach the Gospel. On Sundays he would usually speakin three meetings and often would stay for meetings on the Mondayand Tuesday as well. On top of all that he undertook the translationof the New Testament into Kingwana. He was able to finish thisalong with the Psalms and parts of the book of Proverbs.
During these years Charles was in much pain as a result of his manyillnesses. He was given strong medicine called morphine to deadenthe pain. This became a real problem. He found he couldn’t do withoutit. There are strong medicines like that today, about which peopleneed to be careful.
Now Charles was over 70. His dear wife Priscilla had gone to be withthe Lord two years before. Charles had suffered many diseases overthe years and his body was thin and worn. On 12 July 1931 he spokefor the last time in Ibambi - a five-hour meeting. During the followingfour days he became much weaker, suffering from gallstones and aweakened heart.
On the Thursday evening he went to be with the Lord. The last wordhe said was “hallelujah” (praise the Lord). He was buried in the heartof Africa. At his funeral missionaries and African Christians gavethemselves again fully to the Lord and to His work. It was becauseCharles had given his whole life to the Lord Jesus - his time, hismoney, his mind, his heart, his body - that God could use him toreach others with the Gospel.
If you are a Christian, are you ready to say with C.T. Studd, “If JesusChrist be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great forme to make for Him.” Are you willing to say, “Lord, anywhere youwant me to go, any time You want me to work for You, anything Youwant me to do, I will do it. Yes Lord, anywhere, any time and anything.”
Review questions1 Why do you think Charles went to the Congo the first time? (To
see the needs of the people for himself.)
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Charles Studd
3 3
2 What was it that Charles said before leaving again for Africa? Itbecame the motto of the new mission: “If Jesus Christ be Godand died for Me, then ___.” (“... no sacrifice can be too great forme to make for Him.)
3 Who went with Charles to begin the work? (A young man of 21,named Alfred Buxton.)
4 Tell some of the ways God helped them. (He protected them -from cannibals and the snake; they were able to get a plot ofland to start a mission station; God prepared the hearts of thepeople for the Gospel; other missionaries came to help.)
5 What were some of the difficulties? (One couple, Charles’daughter and her husband, buried their first child in Africa afterhe had died from disease there; Charles and Priscilla were notable to be together for many years; there was a great shortage ofworkers.)
6 What was the greatest heart-break? (When some of the leadingAfrican Christians started to do some of the wicked things theyhad done before.)
7 How has God used the work of WEC to take the Gospel topeople who had not heard? (Over 1,700 full-time workers in76 countries.)
8 What was the last word of Charles before he died and went toHeaven? (Hallelujah.)
Summary of steps for counsellingthe child who wants to come to Christ
Make sure the child understands about
GodWho is God?God made us. He speaks to us through the Bible.God is holy and pure. He loves us.
SinWhat is sin?Sin is disobeying God's commands. It is against God.Speak about specific sins.The child is a sinner by nature and act. (We sin because we aresinners.)Sin deserves punishment.
The SaviourWho alone can take away your sin?God the Son died on the cross for sinners.The Lord Jesus rose again from the dead.He is Lord of all.
Explain how to be savedExplain what the Lord wants us to do, and what He will do.
Use a Bible verse (John 1:12; 3:16; 6:37; Acts 16:31;Romans 6:23 or 10:13).What does the Lord want you to do?What will the Lord do?
Warn about difficulties.Ask: “Do you want to trust Christ, or would you rather wait?”Encourage the child to pray audibly (if ready).
Speak about assurance of salvationGo back to the Bible verse you used.Speak about a changed life.Tell him what the person who is truly trusting in Christ can know.
Give (later) some advice about the Christian lifeRead and obey your Bible.Talk to God, our heavenly Father.Tell others what the Lord has done for you.Ask God to forgive you when you sin.Meet with other Christians.Remember the Lord promises: “I will never leave you” (Heb 13:5).
Copy, cut out and keep in your Bible